Image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image display operation device includes a function selecting portion to correlate with a plurality of functions so as to be executable, a display portion to display the function selecting portion, and a display control portion that causes the display portion to display the function selecting portion. The function selecting portion includes a first function selecting portion in which selectable function items are displayed, and a second function selecting portion in which other function items that are selectable in conjunction with functions included in the first function selecting portion are displayed. When one or more functions included in the first function selecting portion are selected, the display control portion changes function items to be displayed on the second function selecting portion, based on contents of the one or more functions selected on the first function selecting portion.

This Nonprovisional application is a continuation of U.S. applicationSer. No. 13/274,595, filed Oct. 17, 2011, which claims priority under 35U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 2010-235871 filed in Japan on20 Oct. 2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as acopier, a printer, and a facsimile, and, in particular, relates to animage forming apparatus having a function of setting an image outputcondition of an image to be output based on input image data.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In recent years, a copier is commercialized as a product provided withversatile copying processing functions as one of methods to providecharacteristics of a digital multi-functional peripheral.

For example, as an example of the digital multi-functional peripheral,an image forming apparatus has been known that includes an input portionhaving a function of additionally inputting image data and an outputportion for conducting image output based on the image data input by theinput portion, and has a function of setting an image output conditionof the image output by the output portion. According to the imageforming apparatus, it is possible to easily set and change the imageoutput condition of the image to be output before executing a job.

However, in order to fully utilize versatitle functions provided in therecent image forming apparatus, if a user is not used to using theapparatus on a routine basis, there has been a case where erroneous copyis caused by an error in operation of setting a copying processingcondition or the like.

Accordingly, even if the image forming apparatus includes usefulfunctions, the reality is such that functions actually used by a userare limited to conventional functions, and convenient functions are usedless frequently. Cosequently, functions provided in the image formingapparatus are fully not utilized.

Thus, there has been proposed a technology in which a guide function ofan image forming apparatus, which is provided as a digitalmulti-functional peripheral, is provided for a user to effectively usethe provided functions (see Patent Literature 1).

Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.1999-288344) discloses that “function guidance display function” isprovided, and an user can use the functions provided in the apparatusactively by means of guidance display in which the function provided inthe apparatus is selected based on a usage state of the apparatus.

Specifically, in Patent Literature 1, when the user tries to place abook document on a document platen for copying, for example, as hintinformation, the presence of a 1 set, 2 copies (spread copy) functionand an edge erase function is shown, and when a screen is touched toconfirm what the function is, guidance information for the function isdisplayed.

Further, when the user who recognizes the function selects a desiredfunction, explanatory patterns of selectable functions are alsodisplayed on an operation screen.

As described above, according to the technology described in PatentLiterature 1, it is possible to guide and select functions provided inthe image forming apparatus for the user easily.

However, there is a problem in that a user who is unfamiliar to thefunctions may confuse during the operation of the functions because thefunctions requires the user to shift from a present screen of settingoperation to another screen or to display another screen on which theprevious screen is overlaid, in order to obtain the explanation of afunction (display screen of function explanation).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been achieved in view of the conventionalproblems described above. It is an object of the present invention toprovide an image forming apparatus which allows a user to easily selecta desired function out of functions provided in the apparatus so as toimprove operability and prevent erroneous printing due to an incorrectoperation or the like in using a function provided in the image formingapparatus.

The present invention provides an image forming apparatus includes animage display operation device. The image display operation deviceincludes a function selecting portion to correlate with a plurality offunctions executed in the image forming apparatus so as to beexecutable, and a display portion to display the function selectingportion, and a display control portion having a function of causing thedisplay portion to display the function selecting portion, characterizedin that as a configuration of the function selecting portion, a firstfunction selecting portion in which selectable function items aredisplayed in accordance with an operation mode selected in the imageforming apparatus and a second function selecting portion in which otherfunction items that simultaneously selectable are displayed, except forfunctions according to the first function selecting portion areprovided, as a configuration of the display control portion, a functionof displaying the first function selecting portion and the secondfunction selecting portion on the display portion at the same time isprovided, and as configuration of the image display operation device,functions selectable by the first function selecting portion andfunctions selectable by the second function selecting portion areallowed to be selectable at the same time.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the secondfunction selecting portion is correlated with functions related tofunctions according to the first function selecting portion so as to beexecutable.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that as aconfiguration of the first function selecting portion, a detail settingportion associated with functions related to respective functions of thefirst function selecting portion so as to be executable is provided, andwhen a specific function is selected in the first function selectingportion, the display control portion displays the detail setting portionassociated with the specific function on the display portion.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that as aconfiguration of the second function selecting portion, a relatedfunction selecting portion associated with functions related torespective functions of the detail setting portion so as to beexecutable is provided, and when a specific function is selected in thedetail setting portion, the display control portion switches the secondfunction selecting portion to the related function selecting portionassociated with the specific function for displaying.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that when a specificfunction is selected in the related function selecting portion, thedisplay control portion displays the detail setting portion associatedwith the specific function on the display portion.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the firstfunction selecting portion is configured so as to be associated withfunctions of setting finishing processing so as to be executable, and asa configuration of the display control portion, a finishing statedisplay portion for displaying a finishing state of an image based onthe functions of setting the finishing processing is provided, and afunction of displaying the finishing state of the image by the finishingstate display portion as well as displaying the second functionselecting portion is further provided.

In the present invention, the finishing processing includes processingof performing staple, punch or the like for bundling sheets of paper onwhich an image is formed by a post-processing device at the time ofoutputting after image formation in the image forming apparatus.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the secondfunction selecting portion is configured so as to be associated withfunctions related to the functions of setting the finishing processingso as to be executable, and as a configuration of the display controlportion, processing based on a function selected from the functionsrelated to the functions of setting the finishing processing in thesecond function selecting portion is reflected to an image displayed bythe finishing state display portion.

Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that as aconfiguration of the function selecting portion, an image outputinstructing portion associated with functions of instructing imageoutput so as to be executable is provided, and as a configuration of thedisplay control portion, when displaying a finishing state of an imageby the finishing state display portion, the image output instructingportion is displayed in a close vicinity of the second functionselecting portion.

According to the present invention, in an image forming apparatusprovided with an image display operation device including a functionselecting portion to correlate with a plurality of functions executed inthe image forming apparatus so as to be executable, a display portion todisplay the function selecting portion, and a display control portionhaving a function of causing the display portion to display the functionselecting portion, as a configuration of the function selecting portion,a first function selecting portion in which selectable function itemsare displayed in accordance with an operation mode selected in the imageforming apparatus and a second function selecting portion in which otherfunction items that are simultaneously selectable are displayed exceptfor functions according to the first function selecting portion aredisplayed are provided, as a configuration of the display controlportion, a function of displaying the first function selecting portionand the second function selecting portion on the display portion at thesame time is provided, and as a configuration of the image displayoperation device, functions selectable by the first function selectingportion and functions selectable by the second function selectingportion are allowed to be selectable at the same time, so that it ispossible to provide the image forming apparatus in which the presence ofversatile convenient functions provided in the apparatus is realized anda function desired by a user is easily selectable from among thesefunctions, and erroneous printing due to an incorrect operation or thelike is able to be prevented so as to improve operability.

Further, according to the present invention, the second functionselecting portion is associated with functions related to functionsaccording to the first function selecting portion, so that the samefunction is allowed to be made selectable with few operation procedures.

Further, according to the present invention, as a configuration of thefirst function selecting portion, a detail setting portion associatedwith functions related to respective functions of the first functionselecting portion so as to be executable is provided, and when aspecific function is selected in the first function selecting portion,the display control portion displays the detail setting portionassociated with the specific function on the display portion, so that anecessary function is allowed to be made selectable with few operationprocedures.

Further, according to the present invention, as a configuration of thesecond function selecting portion, a related function selecting portionassociated with functions related to respective functions of the detailsetting portion so as to be executable is provided, and when a specificfunction is selected in the detail setting portion, the display controlportion switches the second function selecting portion to the relatedfunction selecting portion associated with the specific function fordisplaying, so that the same function is allowed to be made selectablewith few operation procedures.

Further, according to the present invention, when a specific function isselected in the related function selecting portion, the display controlportion displays the detail setting portion associated with the specificfunction on the display portion, so that the same function is allowed tobe made selectable with few operation procedures.

Further, according to the present invention, the first functionselecting portion is configured so as to be associated with functions ofsetting finishing processing so as to be executable, and as aconfiguration of the display control portion, a finishing state displayportion for displaying a finishing state of an image based on thefunctions of setting the finishing processing is provided, and afunction of displaying the finishing state of the image by the finishingstate display portion as well as displaying the second functionselecting portion is further provided, so that the finishing state ofthe image is displayed by a function selected by the first functionselecting portion. Accordingly, the presence of other functions can beinformed by the second function selecting portion, and other functionscan be made selectable.

Further, according to the present invention, the second functionselecting portion is configured so as to be associated with functionsrelated to the functions of setting the finishing processing so as to beexecutable, and as a configuration of the display control portion,processing based on a function selected from the functions related tothe functions of setting the finishing processing in the second functionselecting portion is reflected to an image displayed by the finishingstate display portion, so that it is possible to easily confirm thefinishing state of the image.

Further, according to the present invention, as a configuration of thefunction selecting portion, an image output instructing portionassociated with functions of instructing image output so as to beexecutable is provided, and as a configuration of the display controlportion, when displaying a finishing state of an image by the finishingstate display portion, the image output instructing portion is displayedin a close vicinity of the second function selecting portion, so that itis possible to perform a selection operation easily.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is en explanatory view showing an entire configuration of animage forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing in a simplified manner an internalconfiguration of the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a hardware configuration ofthe image forming apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a display region of a touch paneldisplay of the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an exemplary screen displayed onthe touch panel display;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of a display form of adisplay panel constituting the touch panel display;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an operation unitin the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a touch paneldisplay constituting the operation unit;

FIGS. 9A to 9E are explanatory views showing an example of items of asecond function selecting portion displayed on an action panel region ofa touch panel display in the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 10A is an explanatory view showing an example of items in aninitial state of the second function selecting portion which isdisplayed on an action panel region of a touch panel display in a copymode of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 10B is an explanatory viewshowing an example of items of the second function selecting portionafter 2-sided copy is selected and set in the copy mode of the imageforming apparatus;

FIG. 11A is an explanatory view showing an example of items in aninitial state of a second function selecting portion which is displayedon an action panel region of a touch panel display in the copy mode ofthe image forming apparatus and FIG. 11B is an explanatory view showingan example of items of the second function selecting portion in which anunnecessary item is deleted to add and display a necessary item after2-sided copy is selected and set in the copy mode of the image formingapparatus;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing an example of a home screen onwhich mode selection is performed in an image forming apparatus of anexample 1;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing an initial screen of the copymode in the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing an initial screen in the copymode after document reading is finished in the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a display screen when 2-sidedcopy is selected in the copy mode of the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing a state where a detail settingscreen and a related function selection screen related to 2-sided copyare displayed after 2-sided copy is selected in the image formingapparatus;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing a state where a detail settingscreen related to aggregating copy is displayed after aggregating copyis selected in the related function selection screen;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing a state where, after an outputform is selected in the detail setting screen related to aggregatingcopy, layouts of a finish image in accordance with the output form aredisplayed;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing a display screen when 2-sidedcopy is selected in a copy mode of an image forming apparatus of anexample 2;

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing a state where a detail settingscreen and a related function selection screen related to 2-sided copyare displayed after 2-sided copy is selected in the image formingapparatus;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing a state where an image of 2-sidedcopy is displayed for previewing on the detail setting screen;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory view showing a state where a detail settingscreen related to aggregating copy is displayed after aggregating copyis selected in the related function selection screen;

FIG. 23 is an explanatory view showing a state where, after an outputform is selected in the detail setting screen related to aggregatingcopy, layouts of a finish image in accordance with the output form aredisplayed;

FIG. 24 is an explanatory view showing a display screen when 2-sidedcopy is selected in a copy mode of an image forming apparatus of acomparative example;

FIG. 25 is an explanatory view showing a state where a detail settingscreen and a related function selection screen related to 2-sided copyare displayed after 2-sided copy is selected in the image formingapparatus;

FIG. 26 is an explanatory view showing an operation of clearing thedetail setting screen after setting is finished in the detail settingscreen;

FIG. 27 is an explanatory view showing an operation of returning to acopy mode screen in the image forming apparatus to display the nextoperation screen;

FIG. 28 is an explanatory view showing a state where a function settingscreen is displayed on a display panel of the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 29 is an explanatory view showing a state where a detail settingscreen related to aggregating copy is displayed after aggregating copyis selected in the related function selection screen; and

FIG. 30 is an explanatory view showing a state where, after an outputform is selected in the detail setting screen related to aggregatingcopy, layouts of a finish image in accordance with the output form aredisplayed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Description will be hereinafter given for embodiments of the presentinvention with reference to drawings.

FIG. 1 shows one exemplary embodiment for carrying out the invention andis an explanatory view showing an entire configuration of an imageforming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing in a simplified manner an internalconfiguration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a functionalblock diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image formingapparatus. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a preview displayregion of a touch panel display of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 5is an explanatory view showing an exemplary screen displayed on thetouch panel display.

The embodiment of the present invention is such that, as shown in FIG.1, in an image forming apparatus 100 provided with a document readingportion 102 having a function of additionally inputting image data, animage forming portion 104 for forming an image on a recording mediumbased on the image data input by the document reading portion 102, adisplay panel (display portion) 132 for displaying a preview image basedon the image data, and an operation unit (image display operationdevice) 120 having a function of displaying on the display panel 132 apreview of a display image based on the image data input from thedocument reading portion 102 as well as having a function of setting animage output condition of the image output on the recording medium bythe image forming portion 104, a configuration of an image displayoperation device according to the present invention is employed as aconfiguration of the operation unit 120.

The operation unit 120 which functions as the image display operationdevice has a function of setting an image output condition of an imageoutput by the image forming portion 104 and is constituted so as to setthe image output condition of the output image on the display panel 132.

A plurality of document images displayed on the display panel 132 are todisplay previews of forms of document images retrieved from the documentreading portion of the image forming apparatus 100 and the like and todisplay output forms of the image formed on a recording medium from theimage forming portion as finish preview images.

The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment isan image forming apparatus which is one kind of an image processingapparatus. The image display operation device according to the presentinvention may be applied to an image processing apparatus or electronicequipment other than such an image forming apparatus.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the presentembodiment may be an apparatus having a plurality of operation modes andprovided with a display device for displaying information so that whenthe operation mode is switched to switch a screen of the display device,even if a user does not remember a screen configuration, the user isable to obtain information desired by the user easily.

Note that, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the presentembodiment is provided with a touch panel display (operation screen)capable of operations by a gesture operation method and a touchoperation method not involving the gesture operation, but may be anapparatus provided with a touch panel display capable of only touchoperations and further may be an apparatus provided with a display panelincapable of operations and only capable of display and a button foroperations.

The image forming apparatus 100 forms an image on a sheet of recordingpaper by an electrophotographic system.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with a copymode, a facsimile mode (FAX mode), a document filing mode (mode ofstoring a scanned image in a storage device in the inside of the imageforming apparatus) and a mail mode (mode of transmitting a scanned imagein a form attaching to an electronic mail) as operation modes. Notethat, the image forming apparatus 100 may be further provided with anetwork printer mode.

Moreover, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be animage forming apparatus in which a screen is switched for each operationmode. In addition, a printing system is not limited to anelectrophotographic system.

First, description will be given for the image forming apparatus 100according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment isprovided with, as shown in FIG. 1, the image reading portion 102, theimage forming portion 104, a paper feed portion 106, a paper outputprocessing device 108, and the operation unit 120.

The operation unit 120 is constituted by a touch panel display 130 and adisplay operation portion 140. The touch panel display 130 isconstituted by a display panel 132 constituted by a liquid crystal panelor the like and a touch panel (touch operation confirming portion) 134which is arranged being overlaid on the display panel 132 and detects aposition pressed by the finger of a user. The display operation portion140 is constituted by a display lamp 142, a power key 144, anenergy-saving key 146, and a home key 148 for returning a display screenof the touch panel display 130 to a home screen for selecting anoperation mode.

In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with the touchpanel display 130 as a main operation device and is provided with thedisplay operation portion 140 constituted by hardware keys and thedisplay lamp. The keys (the power key 144, the energy-saving key 146 andthe home key 148) of the display operation portion 140 have acharacteristic of being constituted as hardware buttons compared tosoftware buttons constituted by the touch panel display 130.

Note that, the image forming apparatus 100 is not limited to oneprovided with the display operation portion 140 with such aconfiguration and may be one provided with only the touch panel display130. The image forming apparatus 100 may be one in which, when the userselects an operation mode in the home screen displayed on the touchpanel display 130, the screen is switched to an initial screen in theselected operation mode. Description will be given for operation modesof such an image forming apparatus 100.

(Copy Mode)

In the following, description will be given for operations in a copymode of the image forming apparatus 100.

In this copy mode, the document reading portion (hereinafter, referredto as the “scanner portion”) 102 and the image forming portion 104 aremainly operated.

In the image forming apparatus 100, a document placed on a documentplaten is read by the document reading portion 102 as image data and theread image data is input to a CPU 300 constituted by a microcomputer orthe like shown in FIG. 3, the image data is subjected to various imageprocessing here, and the image data is output to the image formingportion 104.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming portion 104 is for printing animage of the document represented by the image data on a recordingmedium (in most cases, on a sheet of recording paper), and is providedwith a photoreceptor drum 222, a charging device 224, a laser scanningunit (hereinafter, referred to as an “LSU”) 226, a developing device228, a transfer device 230, a cleaning device 232, a fixing device 234,and a charge erasing device which is not shown.

In the image forming portion 104, a main conveying path 236 and areverse conveying path 238 are provided, and a sheet of recording paperfed from the paper feed portion 106 is conveyed along the main conveyingpath 236. The paper feed portion 106 draws out sheets of recording paperstored in a paper cassette 240 or sheets of recording paper stacked on amanual tray 242 one by one, and feeds the sheet of recording paper tothe main conveying path 236 of the image forming portion 104.

While the sheet of recording paper is conveyed along the main conveyingpath 236 of the image forming portion 104, the sheet of recording paperpasses between the photoreceptor drum 222 and the transfer device 230,and further passes through the fixing device 234, whereby printing isdone on the sheet of recording paper.

The photoreceptor drum 222 rotates in one direction, and its surface iscleaned by the cleaning device 232 and the charge erasing device and,thereafter, uniformly charged by the charging device 224.

The LSU 226 modulates laser beam based on the image data to be printed,and repeatedly scans the surface of the photoreceptor drum 222 with thelaser beam in a main scanning direction, whereby an electrostatic latentimage is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 222.

The developing device 228 develops the electrostatic latent image bysupplying toner to the surface of the photoreceptor drum 222, and atoner image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 222.

The transfer device 230 transfers the toner image on the surface of thephotoreceptor drum 222 to the sheet of recording paper passing betweenthe transfer device 230 and the photoreceptor drum 222.

The fixing device 234 includes a heating roller 248 for heating thesheet of recording paper and a pressing roller 250 for pressing thesheet of recording paper. As the sheet of recording paper is heated bythe heating roller 248 and pressed by the pressing roller 250, the tonerimage that has been transferred to the sheet of recording paper is fixedon the sheet of recording paper. A heater is heated by electric powersupplied to the fixing device 234 and controlled such that temperatureof the heating roller 248 attains to an appropriate temperature forfixing. Note that, when being shifted to the energy-saving mode, forexample, the electric power supplied to the heater is stopped orreduced.

At a position of connection between the main conveying path 236 and thereverse conveying path 238, a separation pawl 244 is arranged. Whenprinting is done only on one side of the sheet of recording paper, theseparation pawl 244 is so positioned that the sheet of recording paperfrom the fixing device 234 is guided to a paper output tray 246 or thepaper output processing device 108 by the separation pawl 244.

When printing is done on both sides of the sheet of recording paper, theseparation pawl 244 is turned to a prescribed direction, so that thesheet of recording paper is guided to the side of the paper output tray246 temporarily, and thereafter conveyed in a switchback manner to beguided to the reverse conveying path 238. The sheet of recording paperpasses through the reverse conveying path 238, is turned upside-down andagain conveyed to the main conveying path 236, and while being conveyedagain along the main conveying path 236, printing is done on the rearsurface thereof, and thereafter the sheet is guided to the paper outputtray 246 or to the paper output processing device 108.

The sheet of recording paper printed as described above is guided to thepaper output tray 246 or to the paper output processing device 108 andejected to the paper output tray 246, or ejected to any of paper outputtrays 110 of the paper output processing device 108.

The paper output processing device 108 applies processing of sorting aplurality of sheets of recording paper to be ejected to the respectivepaper output trays 110, processing of punching each sheet of recordingpaper or processing of stapling each sheet of recording paper. Forexample, when a number of copies of prints are to be prepared, sheets ofrecording paper are sorted and ejected to each of the paper output trays110 such that each paper output tray 110 contains each set of printedsheets, and each sheet of recording paper in each paper output tray 110is subjected to punching processing by a punching unit 111 or staplingprocessing by a stapling unit 112 for each paper output tray 110,whereby copies of prints are prepared.

(Facsimile Mode)

Description will be given for operations in a facsimile mode below.

In the facsimile mode, the document reading portion (scanner unit) 102and a FAX communication portion 160 mainly operate for a transmissionoperation and the FAX communication portion 160 and the image formingportion 104 mainly operate for a reception operation as shown in FIG. 3.

(Transmission Operation)

In the image forming apparatus 100, when the facsimile mode isdesignated, a document placed on the document platen is read by thedocument reading portion 102 as image data, the read image data is inputto the CPU 300 constituted by a microcomputer or the like shown in FIG.3, the image data is subjected to various image processing here, and theimage data is output to a FAX communication portion (FAX communicationportion 160 of FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 3, the FAX communication portion 160 of the imageforming apparatus 100 on the transmitting side connects a designatedtransmitting side line to a designated transmission destination, andconverts the image data to communication data in compliance withfacsimile communication standard to transmit to a facsimile apparatus(for example, the image forming apparatus 100 provided with thefacsimile function) on the receiving side.

(Communication Operation)

When the line is connected, the FAX communication portion 160 of theimage forming apparatus 100 on the receiving side detects acommunication request signal from the FAX communication portion 160 ofthe image forming apparatus 100 on the transmitting side, and transmitsa response signal. Thereafter, for example, the FAX communicationportions 160 exchange performance information supported by thetransmitting side and the receiving side respectively, determine highestpossible speed of communication, a method of coding/code correction ofimage data and the like, and set the method of communication of modems.Using the image signal static in accordance with the communicationmethod, data is transmitted from the FAX communication portion 160 ofthe image forming apparatus 100 on the transmitting side to the FAXcommunication portion 160 of the image forming apparatus 100 on thereceiving side. When the transmission is finished, the line isdisconnected.

(Reception Operation)

The FAX communication portion 160 of the image forming apparatus 100 onthe receiving side converts the received data to image data to transmitto the image forming portion 104. Note that, the received data may beconverted to image data at the image forming portion 104. The imageforming portion 104 prints an image of a document represented by theimage data converted from the received data on a sheet of recordingpaper, in a manner similar to the operation in the copy mode describedabove.

Next, description will be given for a control block configuration of theimage forming apparatus 100 with reference to drawings.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 100 further includes theoperation unit 120 allowing setting of functions provided in theapparatus as the copy mode and the facsimile mode, a ROM 306 for storingprograms and the like, a hard disc 302 serving as a non-volatile storageregion capable of storing programs, data and the like even when power iscut off, and a RAM (Random. Access Memory) 308 for providing a storageregion when a program is executed.

The image forming apparatus 100 further includes a bus 310 connected tothe document reading portion 102, the image forming portion 104, the FAXcommunication portion 160, the operation unit 120, the ROM 306, the harddisc 302 and the RAM 308, and the CPU 300 connected to the bus 310, forrealizing general functions as the image forming apparatus.

The hard disc 302 stores files of image data of documents scanned by theimage forming apparatus 100. In addition, the hard disc 302 storesinitial screen data of each operation mode (not the hard disc 302 butthe ROM 306 is also able to be caused to store).

The ROM 306 stores programs, data and the like necessary for controllingoperations of the image forming apparatus 100. As data to be stored inthe ROM 306 with programs, initial screen data of each operation modemay be stored. The CPU 300 controls the image forming apparatus 100 inaccordance with the programs and data stored in the ROM 306, andexecutes control related to each function of the image forming apparatus100.

As shown in FIG. 3, a public line is connected fortransmitting/receiving image data, to the FAX communication portion 160of the image forming apparatus 100, and to a network interface 304, anetwork line is connected. To the network line, a computer or the likeusing the image forming apparatus 100 as a network-supported printer isconnected or a computer or the like identified by a URL (UniformResource Locator) designated through the Internet is connected. Whenconnected to the Internet in this way, the image forming apparatus 100is able to obtain necessary information through the Internet.

The RAM 308 provides a function as a working memory for temporarilystoring results of calculations and processing by the CPU 300, and afunction as a frame memory for storing image data.

The CPU 300 controls the document reading portion 102, the image formingportion 104, the touch panel display 130 and the display operationportion 140 constituting the operation unit 120, as well as the ROM 306,the hard disc 302 and the RAM 308, by executing a prescribed program.Note that, the operation unit 120 communicates with the CPU 300 throughan input/output interface.

The operation unit 120 is constituted by a plate-shaped panel providedbeing inclined so that the user views easily. On the surface of theoperation unit 120, the touch panel display 130 is provided in itsleft-side area and the display operation portion 140 (the display lamp142 as well as the power key 144, the energy-saving key 146 and the homekey 148 which are hardware buttons) is provided in its right-sideregion. The touch panel display 130 and the display operation portion140 are constituted integrally to be one piece with the operation unit120 as a whole.

As described above, the touch panel display 130 is constituted by thedisplay panel 132 and the touch panel 134 arranged being overlaid on thedisplay panel 132.

In the touch panel display 130, the home screen for selecting anoperation mode in the image forming apparatus 100, a current state ofthe image forming apparatus 100, a state of destination designation, astate of job processing and the like are displayed on the display panel132. On a preview display region of the display panel 132, as aselection button serving as a software button is displayed, and when aregion where the selection button is displayed is pressed by a finger,the pressed position is detected by the touch panel 134. By comparingthe display position of the selection button and the position where thetouch panel 134 is pressed on a program, selection of an operation mode,setting of a function, instruction of an operation and the like of theimage forming apparatus 100 are carried out. In addition to such a touchoperation (command input operation based on pressing position by theuser), the image forming apparatus 100 also allows the gesture operation(command input operation based on operation trajectory by the user) asdescribed above.

Moreover, the display lamp 142 of the display operation portion 140 isconstituted by, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and isturned on/off (or flickered) under the control of the CPU 300. When thepower key 144 which is provided separately from a main power switch ispressed by the user, the image forming apparatus 100 shifts from astandby mode (in which, for example, only a FAX receiving operation isallowed with the main power turned on) to a normal mode, so that alloperation modes of the image forming apparatus 100 become available. Inconjunction with the state, the display lamp 142 is turned on. Further,when a time period in which the user makes no operation exceeded apredetermined time period or the user presses the energy-saving key 146,the image forming apparatus 100 shifts from the normal mode to theenergy-saving mode, so that only a part of operation modes of the imageforming apparatus 100 is available. In conjunction with the state, thedisplay lamp 142 is flickered. Further, when the user presses theenergy-saving key 146 in the energy-saving mode, the image formingapparatus 100 shifts from the energy-saving mode to the normal mode. Thehome key 148 is a hardware key for returning the display of the touchpanel display 130 to the initial state (home screen). Note that, theprocessing when the power key 144, the energy-saving key 146, or thehome key 148 is pressed is not limited thereto.

Note that, a key lamp, which is turned on/off (or flickered) under thecontrol of the CPU 300, may be embedded in the hardware buttons (thepower key 144, the energy-saving key 146 and the home key 148) of thedisplay operation portion 140. For example, the key lamp provides alight ring to five peripheries of a circular key, or provides light tothe center part of the key. The key lamp is turned on at the timing whenhardware buttons are allowed to be used as the operation device (at thetiming when processing is executed when hardware buttons are used).

The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment isprovided with two operation modes (the copy mode and the fax mode)described above. On the touch panel display 130, software buttons forsetting functions in each of the operation modes, and, as necessary,buttons for setting a preview which is an image of image formation or adestination and the like are displayed.

When the operation mode is different, a different screen is displayed onthe touch panel display 130. For allowing the user to find requiredinformation easily even in such a case, such an essential part of thepresent invention is provided that the touch panel display 130 isdivided into a plurality of regions (with the size of the regions beingvariable) to display information in each region. In particular, in theimage forming apparatus 100, when the operation mode is selected in thehome screen of the touch panel display 130 which is provided as a maindisplay operation device, the initial screen of each operation mode isdisplayed.

In the initial screen, (1) since a basic layout is divided into fiveregions (“a system region”, “a function selection region”, “a previewregion”, “an action panel region” and “a task trigger region”) andappropriately arranged, by operating from the upper left to the lowerright by the user (because a flow line of the viewpoint and a flow lineof the finger tip of the user are realized similarly to a conventionalapparatus which is not provided with such a large-sized touch paneldisplay 130), setting is possible easily, and (2) even in the differentoperation mode, the concept displayed on each of the five regions is thesame, so that the user is able to perform an operation without confusioneven when the operation mode is different.

Description will hereinafter be given for the configuration of such abasic layout.

First, description will be given for the basic layout in the touch paneldisplay 130 of the image forming apparatus 100 with reference todrawings.

The basic layout of the touch panel display 130 is constituted by asystem region 1000 which is arranged in the uppermost part, a previewregion (preview display region) 3000 which is arranged in the centerpart of the screen, a function setting/confirmation region 2000(hereinafter, described as a function selection region 2000) which isarranged on the left side of the preview region 3000, an action panelregion 4000 which is arranged in the upper right part of the previewregion 3000, and a task trigger region (operation key display region)5000 which is arranged in the lower right part of the preview region3000 in the horizontally-long touch panel display 130 (for example, 1024pixels width×600 pixels long) as shown in FIG. 4.

Note that, the number of regions in the touch panel display 130 is notlimited to 5 and the right and left arrangements are also not limitedthereto, and, for example, the right and left arrangements may bereversed depending on the dominant hand of the user. Moreover, thesystem region 1000 may be positioned in the lowest part. In addition,the system region 1000 may not be displayed depending on the state orsetting.

In the system region 1000, the state at the present moment of the imageforming apparatus 100 is displayed, and a title of the operation modebeing operated and the status/state of the image forming apparatus 100are displayed. For example, in the system region 1000, an operation modename, an interrupt key, a log-in user name, a state of job beingprocessed, a usage state of an embedded memory, a time and the like aredisplayed.

In the function selection region 2000, function selection menus (such asicons and buttons) which are operated by the user to set each function,switch a display or confirm setting are displayed with the display formchanged depending on an icon mode, a regular mode and an express mode.In the icon mode, only icons for setting functions are displayed on thefunction selection region 2000 so that the preview region 3000 becomesthe largest. In the express mode, even when the preview region 3000becomes the smallest, a screen capable of setting functions at one timeis displayed on the function selection region 2000 in a large scale. Inthe regular mode, the preview region 3000 has an intermediate sizebetween the icon mode and the express mode, and an icon of functionsetting and a function name are displayed with text on the functionselection region 2000.

The icon mode, the regular mode and the express mode are switched basedon the operation of the user. That is, the size of the preview region3000 is changed depending on an operation of the user for display. Inthis way, the icon is able to transmit information to the user with asmall region, and is therefore preferably prepared for all functions sothat the preview region 3000 is able to be displayed in a large scale.

The function selection region 2000 is provided with a change buttongroup 2010 for changing a display style of the function selection region2000 in its lower part. In the change button group 2010, an icon modeshift button 2012 for displaying the function selection region 2000 inthe icon mode, a favorite button 2014 for displaying functions added to“favorite”, a check button 2016 for displaying a function whose settinghas been changed, a list button 2018 for displaying a list of allfunctions capable of being set in a selected operation mode, a regularmode shift button 2020 for displaying the function selection region 2000in the regular mode, and an express mode shift button 2022 fordisplaying the function selection region 2000 in the express mode arearranged.

Note that, when a lot of information is displayed on the functionselection region 2000, the information is displayed so as to be movablein the vertical direction on the function selection region 2000. In thiscase, the change button group 2010 is not moved and is always displayedon the lowest part of the function selection region 2000.

In the preview region 3000, an output (finishing) image of a document isdisplayed. The image is displayed with the use of dummy data or scanneddata, and the image displayed on the preview region 3000 is changedevery time the user changes the finishing. The preview region 3000 hastwo modes of finishing display with a dummy image in a virtual modebefore scanning and finishing display with a real image in a scan inmode after scanning, and the virtual mode further has two kindsincluding before document setting and after document setting.

The preview region 3000 is provided with a preview change button group3010 for changing a display style of the preview region 3000 in itslower part. In the preview change button group 3010, an anticlockwiserotation button 3016 for rotating a preview anticlockwise by 90 degrees,a clockwise rotation button 3018 for rotating a preview clockwise by 90degrees, and a zoom bar 3020 are arranged. In addition thereto, forexample, a color change button 3012 and a preview operation button 3014are arranged.

Here, when the user carries out the touch operation once for theanticlockwise rotation button 3016, the preview is rotated anticlockwiseby 90 degrees, and when carrying out the touch operation twice, thepreview is rotated anticlockwise by 180 degrees (inverted vertically).In addition, even when a finishing document image displayed on thepreview region is subjected to the gesture operation (even when thedocument image is rotated in an anticlockwise rotation direction by 180degrees by the finger tip), the preview is rotated anticlockwise by 180degrees and inverted vertically.

When the clockwise rotation button 3018 is subjected to the touchoperation once, the preview is rotated clockwise by 90 degrees, and whencarrying out the touch operation twice, the preview is rotated clockwiseby 180 degrees (inverted vertically). In addition, even when a finishingdocument image displayed on the preview region is subjected to thegesture operation (even when the document image is rotated in aclockwise rotation direction by 180 degrees by the finger tip), thepreview is rotated clockwise by 180 degrees and inverted vertically.

When carrying out the touch operation for a plus button 3020A of thezoom bar 3020 or the gesture operation (dragging or sliding) for a bar3020C to the plus button 3020A side, the preview is displayed enlargedin size. In addition, even when a finishing document image displayed onthe preview region is subjected to the gesture operation (even whenpinching-out/pinching-open the document image with the finger tip), thepreview is displayed enlarged in size.

When carrying out the touch operation for a minus button 3020B of thezoom bar 3020 or the gesture operation (dragging or sliding) for the bar3020C to the minus button 3020B side, the preview is displayed reducedin size. In addition, even when a finishing document image displayed onthe preview region is subjected to the gesture operation (even whenpinching-in/pinching-close the document image with the finger tip), thepreview is displayed reduced in size.

Note that, when the number of pages of the document image displayed onthe preview region 3000 is large, display page selection buttons (a pagenumber input button, a frontward page button, a backward page button, asingle-page display button, a plural-pages display button and the like)capable of the touch operation may be displayed. Note that, even whenthe document image is slid/touched (flick operation), page forward andpage backward of the document to be previewed are able to be carriedout. In addition, when the document image displayed on the previewregion 3000 is large, a scroll bar capable of the touch operation or thegesture operation may be displayed.

On the action panel region 4000, information related to support, adviceand proposal of an operation is displayed. In the action panel region4000, for example, when a certain user selects a specific function,functions related to the function are displayed, other functions relatedto the function are displayed in an object-oriented manner, or afunction which has been combined and selected in the past by the user ora user of a group to which the user belongs is displayed as a“recommended function”.

On the task trigger region 5000, a trigger item which is operated by theuser to actually operate the image forming apparatus 100 after allsettings in the operation mode is completed is displayed. An examplethereof includes a start button (software button) for startingprocessing. Note that, in operation modes with printing (other than faxtransmission), information about being out of consumables is alsorelated to a task being inexecutable, and is therefore displayed on this“task trigger region”.

In this case, only in a state where the start button is able to bepressed, it is also preferable that the start button be displayed. Thestate where the start button is able to be pressed is a state where allsettings are finished and consumables (sheets of recording paper andtoner) are not out in an operation mode involving printing and is astate where all settings of transmission parameters including adestination is finished in a fax mode (transmission) which is anoperation mode without involving printing.

The arranged positions of these five regions will not be changed, evenwhen the operation mode is changed (in an initial screen of anyoperation mode). In addition, like the display by switching the iconmode/the regular mode/the express mode in the function selection region2000 (and the preview region 3000), the regions are changed in size byexpanding and contracting in a lengthwise direction (longitudinaldirection) of a screen of the touch panel display 130.

The five regions as such are arranged even considering a user interfacein a conventional apparatus as well as focusing on a flow line of theuser's viewpoint and a flow line of the operation. With sucharrangement, the visual line of the user moves from the upper left tothe lower right and the operation of the user (the finger tip of thedominant hand) moves from the upper left to the lower right in the touchpanel display 130.

Note that, in order to shift from a certain operation mode to anotheroperation mode, the home key 148 is pressed and another operation modeis selected in the home screen. In this way, the operation mode isswitched via the home screen.

(Initial Screen Display Operation of Copy Mode)

When the copy mode is selected, an initial screen of the copy mode isdisplayed on the touch panel display 130 using copy initial screen datareadout from the hard disc 302 or the like.

At this time, for example, on the touch panel display 130, as shown inFIG. 5, a copy mode initial screen 7100 is displayed. The copy modeinitial screen 7100 is divided into five regions with the layoutconfiguration described above for displaying information.

In the system region 1000 of the copy mode initial screen 7100, as shownin FIG. 5, an area 1102 showing an operation mode being selected (thecopy mode here), an area 1104 displaying sub-information associated withthe selected operation mode, an area 1106 displaying a log-in user name,an area 1108 displaying a logout button (software button), an area 1110displaying a job state of a currently executed job, an area 1112displaying a button (software button) related to a job state, an area1114 displaying a communication state, and an area 1116 displaying acurrent time are arranged.

In the area 1102, a name or/and an icon showing the operation mode isdisplayed.

It is also preferable that, when the area 1102 is subjected to the touchoperation, the tap operation or the double tap operation, a menu showingoperation modes is displayed in the pull-down so that the operation modeis able to be switched (which is the same in other operation modes).

On the area 1104, as sub-information, an interrupt key (software button)is displayed. When the interrupt key is subjected to the touchoperation, the tap operation or the double tap operation, interruptionprocessing is able to be executed in the copy mode.

On the area 1112, the state of the currently executed job is displayedas an icon. When the job state is subjected to the touch operation, thetap operation or the double tap operation, detail job state informationis displayed. Further, it is also preferable that a button for stoppingthe selected job or the like is displayed on the area 1112.

In the function selection region 2000 of the copy mode initial screen7100, a function selection menu 2100 which is selectable by the user inthe copy mode and the change button group 2010 described above aredisplayed. On the screen shown in FIG. 5, a function selection menu isdisplayed in the regular mode.

As shown in FIG. 5, the function selection menu displayed in the regularmode is constituted by an icon group 2100 and a text group 2120. As thefunction selection menu displayed on the function selection region 2000,an icon 2102 for setting the number of copies and a text 2122 fordisplaying a set content, an icon 2104 for setting a color mode and atext 2124 for displaying a set content, an icon 2106 for setting a copydensity and a text 2126 for displaying a set content, an icon 2108 forsetting a copy magnification and a text 2128 for displaying a setcontent, an icon 2110 for setting a type of a document and a text 2130for displaying a set content, an icon 2112 for a type of sheets and atext 2132 for displaying a set content, an icon 2114 for editing animage and a text 2134 for displaying a set content, and an icon 2116 forediting a layout and a text 2136 for displaying a set content aredisplayed.

Note that, as described above, these additional items in the functionsetting menu are able to be displayed being capable of scrolling in thevertical direction with the display position of the change button group2010 fixed. Then, display items of the function setting menu includingitems which are not displayed and hidden in the vertical direction areable to be switched by any of the touch operation (scroll operation) andthe gesture operation (flick operation to the vertical direction).

Here, image editing is image editing for one-page document andlower-level menus include edge erase, a print menu, a watermark, a userstamp and the like, and layout editing is image editing for plural-pagesdocument and lower-level menus include page aggregation, binding margin,page shift, centering and the like. Much lower menus are displayed onthe touch panel display 130 when the icon 2102 to the icon 2116 or thetext 2122 to the text 2136 is subjected to the touch operation, the tapoperation or the double tap operation.

On the preview region 3000 of the copy mode initial screen 7100, adocument output (finishing) image 3100 and the preview change buttongroup 3010 described above are arranged. At this time, the image 3100 isdisplayed with the use of dummy data or scanned data, and every time theuser changes the function setting menu of the function selection region2000, the image 3100 is changed and displayed on the preview region 3000(display of the preview is changed).

On the action panel region 4000 of the copy mode initial screen 7100,information related to support, advice and proposal of the copyoperation is displayed. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, recommended functionsin the copy mode selected by the user are displayed. At this time, onthe action panel region 4000, an area 4100 showing contents ofinformation displayed and areas 4102 to 4106 displaying recommendedfunctions with text serving as software buttons by themselves.

When the area 4102 is subjected to the touch operation, the tapoperation or the double tap operation, further detail information ofenergy-saving copy is displayed in the pull-down. For example, at thistime, a software button for shifting to a function setting screen of2-sided copy with a text of “With 2-sided printing, sheets can besaved”, a software button for shifting to a function setting screen ofpage aggregation with a text of “When a plurality of documents areaggregated to be printed, sheets can be saved”, and a software buttonfor shifting to a function setting screen of saddle stitch with a textof “Printing is possible to be bound like a book” are displayed.

On the task trigger region 5000 of the copy mode initial screen 7100, anexecution button group 5100 is displayed. As the execution button group5100, a scan in key (software button) 5102 for causing the image formingapparatus 100 to be operated to scan a document to obtain image data, aclear all key (software button) 5104 for clearing set functions, amonochrome start key (software button) 5106 for causing the imageforming apparatus 100 to be operated to scan a document to executemonochrome copy, and a color start key (software button) 5108 forcausing the image forming apparatus 100 to be operated to scan adocument to execute color copy are arranged.

In this way, on the copy mode initial screen 7100 which is divided intofive regions to display information, when the user inputs a request,copy processing is executed in accordance with the request.

Next, description will be given for a characteristic configuration ofthe image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment with referenceto drawings.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of a display form of adisplay panel constituting the touch panel display of the image formingapparatus of the present embodiment.

The image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is such that,as shown in FIG. 6, in the touch panel display 130, the preview region3000 is arranged in the center part of the screen and the functionselection region 2000 is arranged on the left side of the preview region3000. In addition, the action panel region 4000 is arranged in the upperright part of the preview region 3000 and the task trigger region 5000is arranged in the lower part of the action panel region 4000.

In the preview region 3000, a virtual numeric keypad 3001 and a mimicdisplay 3002 picturing the entire apparatus are displayed on the initialscreen.

On the task trigger region 5000, the execution button group (imageoutput instruction screen) 5100 is displayed.

As the execution button group 5100, the scan in key 5102, the clear allkey 5104, the monochrome start key 5106, and the color start key 5108are arranged.

Next, description will be given for a characteristic configuration ofthe operation unit 120 in the image forming apparatus 100 of the presentembodiment with reference to drawings.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an operation unitin the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 isa block diagram showing a configuration of a touch panel displayconstituting the operation unit.

The operation unit 120 according to the present embodiment is providedwith, as shown in FIG. 7, an operation position detecting portion 135, ascreen display portion 136, a display image generating portion 137 andan operation unit side control portion (display control portion) 131 forcontrolling processing and operations in the operation unit 120, inaddition to the display panel 132 and the touch panel 134.

The image forming apparatus 100 is provided with the document readingportion 102 for inputting image data, an image processing portion 103,an accumulating portion 105 for accumulating image data input from thedocument reading portion 102, and an image output portion 107 foroutputting images of a printer, a transmitting portion and the like, andis operated under the control of a main control portion 101.

The document reading portion 102 is provided with an additional readingfunction capable of, after finishing reading of a desired document(image data), additionally reading (additionally inputting) a furthernew document.

The operation position detecting portion 135 detects a position of theoperation carried out on the touch panel 134.

The image display portion 136 displays an image formed by the displayimage generating portion 137 on the display panel 132.

The display image generating portion 137 is provided with a function offorming a prescribed image depending on an instruction from theoperation unit side control portion 131 based on image data input to amain body of the image forming apparatus 100 as well as forming an imagein a finishing state in accordance with the setting of finishingprocessing.

The operation unit side control portion 131 is connected to the maincontrol portion 101 of the main body of the image forming apparatus 100and functions as a control portion in the touch panel display 130.

Here, description will be given for the characteristic operation unitside control portion 131 in detail.

The operation unit side control portion 131 is provided with, as shownin FIG. 8, a preview display function of displaying a preview of adisplay image based on a document read from the document reading portion102 on the touch panel display 130 and a scroll display function ofmoving and displaying plural-pages display images displayed forpreviewing.

Further, the operation unit side control portion 131 is provided with afunction selecting portion 1310 associated with a plurality of functionsexecuted in the image forming apparatus so as to be executable. Inaddition, the operation unit side control portion 131 is provided with afunction of causing the display panel 132 to display the functionselecting portion 1310.

The function selecting portion 1310 is provided with a first functionselecting portion 1311 in which selectable function items are displayedin accordance with an operation mode selected in the image formingapparatus 100 and a second function selecting portion 1312 in whichother function items which are selectable at the same time other thanfunctions according to the first function selecting portion 1311.

The first function selecting portion 1311 is associated with functionsof setting finishing processing so as to be executable. In addition, adetail setting portion 1311 n associated with functions related torespective functions of the first function selecting portion 1311 so asto be executable is provided.

The second function selecting portion 1312 is associated with functionsrelated to functions of setting finishing processing so as to beexecutable. In addition, functions related to functions according to thefirst function selecting portion 1311 are associated so as to beexecutable. Further, a related function selecting portion 1312 nassociated with functions related to respective functions of the detailsetting portion 1311 n of the first function selecting portion 1311 soas to be executable is provided.

Further, the operation unit side control portion 131 is provided with afunction of displaying the first function selecting portion 1311 and thesecond function selecting portion 1312 at the same time on the displaypanel 132 as shown in FIG. 6. In addition, it is configured such thatfunctions selectable by the first function selecting portion 1311 andfunctions selectable by the second function selecting portion 1312 areselectable at the same time.

Moreover, the operation unit side control portion 131, when a specificfunction is selected in the first function selecting portion 1311,displays the detail setting portion associated with the specificfunction on the display panel 132, and when a specific function isselected in the first function selecting portion 1311, switches thesecond function selecting portion 1312 to the related function selectingportion associated with the specific function for displaying.

Further, when a specific function is selected in the related functionselecting portion, the operation unit side control portion 131 displaysthe detail setting portion associated with the specific function on thedisplay panel 132.

In addition, the operation unit side control portion 131 is providedwith a finishing state display portion 1320 for displaying a finishingstate of an image based on a function of setting finishing processingand is provided with a function of displaying the finishing state of theimage by the finishing state display portion 1320 as well as displayingthe second function selecting portion 1312.

Further, the operation unit side control portion 131 is provided with afunction of reflecting processing based on a function selected fromfunctions related to functions of setting finishing processing in thesecond function selecting portion 1312 to an image displayed by thefinishing state display portion 1320.

Moreover, the operation unit side control portion 131 is configured soas to display the execution button group (image output instructingportion) 5100 in the close vicinity of the second function selectingportion 1312 when a finishing state of an image is displayed by thefinishing state display portion.

Next, description will be given for the first function selecting portion1311 displayed on the function selection region 2000 and the secondfunction selecting portion 1312 displayed on the action panel region4000 on the touch panel display 130 of the image forming apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 6, the initial screen of the copy mode has the firstfunction selecting portion 1311 in which operation keys associated withfunctions of setting each of a plurality of functions, specifically,including the number of copies, a color mode, a copy density, amagnification, a document size, a sheet size, 2-sided copy, and staple(finishing processing) are displayed from the upper side to the lowerside of the function selection region 2000 as a function selection menuscreen.

The second function selecting portion 1312 displays operation keysassociated with a plurality of functions from the upper side to thelower side of the action panel region 4000 as a menu screen forselecting functions related to a function specified in the firstfunction selecting portion 1311.

Here, description will be given for a display content of the secondfunction selecting portion 1312 which is displayed on the action panelregion 4000 by taking examples.

FIGS. 9A to 9E are explanatory views showing an example of items of asecond function selecting portion displayed on an action panel region ofa touch panel display in the image forming apparatus of the presentembodiment.

A second function selecting portion 1312 a related to the “color mode”in the first function selecting portion 1311 includes selection items of“add to favorite”, “2-sided copy”, “page aggregation”, “staple”,“binding margin”, and “edge erase” as shown in FIG. 9A.

A second function selecting portion 1312 b related to the “2-sided copy”in the first function selecting portion 1311 includes selection items of“add to favorite”, “edit mode, designate chapter division”, “pageaggregation”, “binding margin”, “staple”, “color mode”, and “skip blanksheet” as shown in FIG. 9B.

In FIGS. 9A and 9B, items indicated with a reference letter A arefunctions assumed to be frequently used to focus on reducing the numberof operations.

Items indicated with a reference letter B are functions which areconvenient when used jointly to suggest how to use for a user.

An item indicated with a reference letter C is a “recommended function”to call user's attention to presence of the function.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 9B, an item positioned below a displayrange line D is arranged on a next page (second page). That is, due to asize of the action panel region 4000, displayable items are to belimited. Accordingly, an item which is not displayable may be scrolledto turn up by scroll display.

As another example, a second function selecting portion 1312 c relatedto “binding margin” includes selection items of “add to favorite”,“staple”, “punch”, “2-sided copy”, “sheet”, and “suppress background” asshown in FIG. 9C.

In FIG. 9C, items indicated with a reference letter c1 are functionshaving a strong mechanical relation to each other, and when the bindingmargin is selected, it is assumed that sheets are likely to be puttogether after printing, and the staple or the punch are likely to beused. Accordingly, consideration is given for enabling a smoothoperation by having a configuration in which functions with a closefunctional relation are arranged next to each other.

Moreover, a second function selecting portion 1312 d related to“cover/index paper” includes selection items of “add to favorite”, “pageaggregation”, “staple”, “2-sided copy”, “color mode”, and “bindingmargin” as shown in FIG. 9D.

In FIG. 9D, items indicated with a reference letter dl are for callingattention to new functions, which were conventionally not able to becombined with the “cover/index paper” function, however, setting becomespossible with such a configuration. Therefore, it is aimed to callconventional user's attention to addition of the new functions.

In addition, a second function selecting portion 1312 e related to“count the number of documents” includes selection items of “add tofavorite”, “skip blank sheet”, “job build mode”, “2-sided copy”, “printpage number”, and “document size” as shown in FIG. 9E.

In FIG. 9E, an item indicated with a reference letter e1 is for turningon/off a function with a touch operation, and it is possible to turnon/off a function of the “job build mode” without shifting to anotherscreen.

Moreover, an item indicated with a reference letter e2 is for shiftingto a child function. This item shifts to the child function althoughmost items are for shifting to a parent function. A parent functionindicates shifting to a top screen of a function. Here, a not-shownscreen related to “print menu” is a parent function. A child functionindicates a small item in the function. Here, an item of “print pagenumber” in the screen related to the “print menu” is a child function.

That is, setting of items of the second function selecting portion 1312is configured so as to jump not only to a parent function, but also evento jump to a child function in the parent function, thereby it ispossible to reduce the number of touches to a large extent and to callattention to presence of a function which is deep in a layer. Thisrecommends a function included in the image forming apparatus 100 to auser so that setting and an operation are more easily performed.

Next, description will be given for switch display of the secondfunction selecting portion 1312 which is displayed on the action panelregion 4000 taking examples.

FIG. 10A is an explanatory view showing an example of items in aninitial state of a second function selecting portion which is displayedon an action panel region of a touch panel display in a copy mode of theimage forming apparatus of the present embodiment, and (b) is anexplanatory view showing an example of items of the second functionselecting portion enabling to reduce operation procedures by displayingconvenient functions after 2-sided copy is selected and set in the copymode of the image forming apparatus.

First, description will be given for switching from a normal menu screenin an initial state to a menu screen enabling few operation procedureswith convenient functions displayed.

A menu screen in an initial state of a second function selecting portion1312(a) on the touch panel display 130 in the copy mode of the imageforming apparatus 100 includes items of “select magnificationautomatically” (a)1, “call program” (a)2, “transmit simultaneously withprinting” (a)3, “quick file” (a)4, “filing” (a)5, “call setting” (a)6,“eco program” (a)7, “how to save sheet?” (a)8, “what is preview?” (a)9,and “how to confirm setting?” (a)10 as shown in FIG. 10A.

In the copy mode of the image forming apparatus 100, a menu screen of asecond function selecting portion 1312(b) after 2-sided copy is selectedand set in the copy mode of the image forming apparatus 100 is switchedto items of “rotate rear surface 180 degrees” (b)1, “selectmagnification automatically” (a)1, “register program” (b)2, “transmitsimultaneously with printing” (a)3, “quick file” (a)4, and “filing” (a)5as shown in FIG. 10B.

That is, in the menu screen of the second function selecting portion1312(b) after 2-sided copy is selected and set, items of “call program”(a)2, “call setting” (a)6, “eco program” (a)7, “how to save sheet?”(a)8, “what is preview?” (a)9, and “how to confirm setting?” (a)10 inthe menu screen of the second function selecting portion 1312(a) in aninitial state are deleted, and items of “rotate rear surface 180degrees” (b)1 and “register program” (b)2 are added.

A function of “rotate rear surface 180 degrees” (b)1, or specifically to“rotate orientation of rear surface 180 degrees” is a function which iseffective when reading setting is erroneously set in reading a documentand rear surface of the read document is oppositely oriented, forexample. Accordingly, an operation is assisted by displaying “rotaterear surface 180 degrees” (b)1 when 2-sided copy is set to call user'sattention to presence of the function, and it is possible to realize asimple operation in which an operation is able to be performed withoutshifting between menu screens by turning on/off the function by onetouch.

In this way, the function of “rotate rear surface 180 degrees” (b)1 is aconvenient function, but originally a function which is not operableunless the item of “2-sided copy” is selected from the menu screen whichis displayed on the function selection region 2000 and pressed todisplay a 2-sided copy dialogue (not shown), and a function which isburied in a layer and thus hardly noticed.

Then, by adding the item of “rotate rear surface 180 degrees” (b)1 tothe menu screen of the second function selecting portion 1312(b) asshown in FIG. 10B, it becomes possible to execute a convenient functionwith few operations.

Next, description will be given for switching from a normal menu screenin an initial state to a menu screen in which an unnecessary function isdeleted to display a necessary function.

FIG. 11A is an explanatory view showing an example of items in aninitial state of a second function selecting portion which is displayedon an action panel region of a touch panel display in the copy mode ofthe image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, and (b) is anexplanatory view showing an example of items of the second functionselecting portion in which an unnecessary item is deleted to add anddisplay a necessary item after 2-sided copy is selected and set in thecopy mode of the image forming apparatus.

A menu screen in an initial state of the second function selectingportion 1312(a) on the touch panel display 130 in the copy mode of theimage forming apparatus 100 includes items of “select magnificationautomatically” (a)1, “call program” (a)2, “transmit simultaneously withprinting” (a)3, “quick file” (a)4, “filing” (a)5, “call setting” (a)6,“eco program” (a)7, “how to save sheet?” (a)8, “what is preview?” (a)9,and “how to confirm setting?” (a)10 as shown in FIG. 11A.

When setting is changed in the copy mode of the image forming apparatus100, a menu screen of a second function selecting portion 1312(c) afterchanging the setting is switched to items of “select magnificationautomatically” (a)1, “register program” (c)1, “transmit simultaneouslywith printing” (a)3, “quick file” (a)4, “filing” (a)5, “call setting”(a)6, “eco program” (a)7, “how to save sheet?” (a)8, “what is preview?”(a)9, and “how to confirm setting?” (a)10 as shown in FIG. 11B.

That is, on the menu screen of the second function selecting portion1312(c), an item of “call program” becomes impossible, and “registerprogram” goes into a possible state. Accordingly, the menu screen isclarified by deleting unnecessary “call program” (a)2 to add and displaynecessary “register program” (c)1.

Next, description will be given for a case where image data is output inthe copy mode in the image forming apparatus 100 of the presentembodiment based on examples with reference to drawings.

Example 1

In an example 1, a 1-sided document is output in 2-sided copying in theimage forming apparatus 100.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing an example of a home screen onwhich mode selection is performed in the image forming apparatus of theexample 1, FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing an initial screen ofthe copy mode in the image forming apparatus, FIG. 14 is an explanatoryview showing an initial screen in the copy mode after document readingis finished in the image forming apparatus, FIG. 15 is an explanatoryview showing a display screen when 2-sided copy is selected in the copymode of the image forming apparatus, FIG. 16 is an explanatory viewshowing a state where a detail setting screen and a related functionselection screen related to 2-sided copy are displayed after 2-sidedcopy is selected in the image forming apparatus, FIG. 17 is anexplanatory view showing a state where a detail setting screen relatedto aggregating copy is displayed after aggregating copy is selected inthe related function selection screen, and FIG. 18 is an explanatoryview showing a state where, after an output form is selected in thedetail setting screen related to aggregating copy, layouts of a finishimage in accordance with an output form are displayed.

When copy is made in the image forming apparatus 100, an icon of Copy1301 c is selected on a home screen 1301 which is displayed on the touchpanel display 130 as shown in FIG. 12.

When the icon of Copy 1301 c is selected in the image forming apparatus100, the image forming apparatus 100 enters the copy mode, and on thetouch panel display 130, as shown in FIG. 13, the first functionselecting portion 1311 on which functions related to the copy mode aredisplayed is displayed on the function selection region 2000 arranged onthe left side of the screen, while the second function selecting portion1312 on which items of other functions which are selectable at the sametime other than functions according to the first function selectingportion 1311 are displayed, is displayed on the action panel region 4000arranged on the right side of the screen. On the preview region 3000 inthe center part of the screen, the virtual numerical keypad 3001 and themimic display 3002 picturing an entire apparatus are displayed on aninitial screen.

At this time, in a case where image data has already been input in theimage forming apparatus 100, an image P1 based on the read image data isdisplayed for previewing on the preview region 3000 as shown in FIG. 14.

The first function selecting portion 1311 includes selection items of“color mode”, “copy density”, “magnification”, “document size”, “sheetsize”, “2-sided copy”, and “finishing”.

The second function selecting portion 1312 includes selection items of“select magnification automatically”, “job program”, “filing”, “transmitsimultaneously”, “insert section” and “delete section”.

Then, when 2-sided copy is selected from the selection items of thefirst function selecting portion 1311 as shown in FIG. 15, a 2-sidedcopy function detail setting screen (detail setting portion) 1311 aassociated with functions related to the function of 2-sided copy isdisplayed so as to be overlaid in front of the function selection region2000 and the preview region 3000 as shown in FIG. 16.

At this time, on the action panel region 4000, in place of the secondfunction selecting portion 1312, a first related function selectionscreen (related function selecting portion) 1312 a 1 associated with thefunction of 2-sided copy is displayed.

The 2-sided copy function detail setting screen 1311 a includesselection items of “1-sided→1-sided”, “1-sided→2-sided”,“2-sided→2-sided”, “2-sided→1-sided” and “rotate rear surface 180degrees”, and a preview region 1311 a 1.

The first related function selection screen 1312 a 1 includes selectionitems of “aggregating copy”, “binding margin”, “saddle stitch”,“staple”, and “punch”.

When a 1-sided document is output in 2-sided copying, “1-sided→2-sided”is selected on the 2-sided copy function detail setting screen 1311 a asshown in FIG. 16. At this time, a finishing state of an image which isoutput is displayed for previewing on the preview region 1311 a 1 of the2-sided copy function detail setting screen 1311 a.

When “aggregating copy” is selected on the first related functionselection screen 1312 a 1 as shown in FIG. 16, a page aggregationfunction detail setting screen 1311 b is displayed in front of thefunction selection region 2000 and the preview region 3000, and in placeof the first related function selection screen 1312 a 1, a secondrelated function selection screen (related function selecting portion)1312 a 2 is displayed as shown in FIG. 17.

The page aggregation function detail setting screen 1311 b includesselection items of “OFF”, “two pages”, “four pages” and “eight pages”,and a preview region 1311 b 1.

The second related function selection screen 1312 a 2 includes selectionitems of “2-sided copy”, “color mode”, “saddle stitch”, “staple”, and“punch”.

Then, when “two pages” is selected on the page aggregation functiondetail setting screen 1311 b, a plurality of patterns of page layoutscorresponding to the two pages (2 in 1) are displayed on the previewregion 1311 b 1 of the page aggregation function detail setting screen1311 b as shown in FIG. 18.

Next, a specific pattern is selected from the plurality of page layoutsand the color start key 5108 is operated by touch so that color copy isexecuted.

In this way, copying in the copy mode is set and executed.

Example 2

In an example 2, a 2-sided document is output in 2-sided copying in theimage forming apparatus 100.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing a display screen when 2-sidedcopy is selected in a copy mode of an image forming apparatus of theexample 2, FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing a state where a detailsetting screen and a related function selection screen related to2-sided copy are displayed after 2-sided copy is selected in the imageforming apparatus, FIG. 21 is an explanatory view showing a state wherean image of 2-sided copy is displayed for previewing on the detailsetting screen, FIG. 22 is an explanatory view showing a state where adetail setting screen related to aggregating copy is displayed afteraggregating copy is selected in the related function selection screen,and FIG. 23 is an explanatory view showing a state where, after anoutput form is selected in the detail setting screen related toaggregating copy, layouts of a finish image in accordance with theoutput form are displayed.

In a case where 2-sided copy is performed in the image forming apparatus100, when 2-sided copy is selected from the selection items of the firstfunction selecting portion 1311 on a screen in the copy mode as shown inFIG. 19, the 2-sided copy function detail setting screen 1311 aassociated with functions related to the function of 2-sided copy isdisplayed so as to be overlaid in front of the function selection region2000 and the preview region 3000 as shown in FIG. 20.

At this time, on the action panel region 4000, in place of the secondfunction selecting portion 1312, a first related function selectionscreen 1312 a 1 associated with the function of 2-sided copy isdisplayed.

When a 2-sided document is output in 2-sided copying, “2-sided→2-sided”is selected on the 2-sided copy function detail setting screen 1311 a asshown in FIG. 20. At this time, a finishing state of an image which isoutput is displayed for previewing on the preview region 1311 a 1 of the2-sided copy function detail setting screen 1311 a as shown in FIG. 21.

When “aggregating copy” is selected on the first related functionselection screen 1312 a 1 as shown in FIG. 21, the page aggregationfunction detail setting screen 1311 b is displayed in front of thefunction selection region 2000 and the preview region 3000, and in placeof the first related function selection screen 1312 a 1, the secondrelated function selection screen 1312 a 2 is displayed as shown in FIG.22.

When “two pages” is selected on the page aggregation function detailsetting screen 1311 b, a plurality of patterns of page layoutscorresponding to the two pages (2 in 1) are displayed on the previewregion 1311 b 1 of the page aggregation function detail setting screen1311 b as shown in FIG. 23.

Next, a specific pattern is selected from the plurality of page layoutsand the color start key 5108 is operated by touch so that color copy isexecuted.

In this way, copying in the copy mode is set and executed.

Comparative Example

Next, as a comparative example, description will be given for a casewhere image data is output in the copy mode by a conventional andgeneral operation in the image forming apparatus 100 with reference todrawings.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory view showing a display screen when 2-sidedcopy is selected in a copy mode of an image forming apparatus, FIG. 25is an explanatory view showing a state where a detail setting screen anda related function selection screen related to 2-sided copy aredisplayed after 2-sided copy is selected in the image forming apparatus,FIG. 26 is an explanatory view showing an operation of clearing thedetail setting screen after setting is finished on the detail settingscreen, FIG. 27 is an explanatory view showing an operation of returningto a copy mode screen in the image forming apparatus to display the nextoperation screen, FIG. 28 is an explanatory view showing a state where afunction setting screen is displayed on a display panel of the imageforming apparatus, FIG. 29 is an explanatory view showing a state wherea detail setting screen related to aggregating copy is displayed afteraggregating copy is selected in the related function selection screen,and FIG. 30 is an explanatory view showing a state where, after anoutput form is selected in the detail setting screen related toaggregating copy, layouts of a finish image in accordance with an outputform are displayed.

In the image forming apparatus 100, on the touch panel display 130, asshown in FIG. 24, the first function selecting portion 1311 on whichfunctions related to the copy mode are displayed, is displayed on thefunction selection region 2000 arranged on the left side of the screen,while the second function selecting portion 1312 on which items of otherfunctions which are selectable at the same time other than functionsaccording to the first function selecting portion 1311 are displayed, isdisplayed on the action panel region 4000 arranged on the right side ofthe screen. On the preview region 3000 in the center part of the screen,the virtual numerical keypad 3001 and the mimic display 3002 picturingan entire apparatus are displayed on an initial screen.

In a case where 2-sided copy is made by a conventional method, when2-sided copy is selected from selection items of the first functionselecting portion 1311, the 2-sided copy function detail setting screen1311 a associated with functions related to the function of 2-sided copyis displayed so as to be overlaid in front of the function selectionregion 2000 and the preview region 3000 as shown in FIG. 25.

When a 2-sided document is output in 2-sided copying, “2-sided→2-sided”is selected on the 2-sided copy function detail setting screen 1311 a asshown in FIG. 25. At this time, a finishing state of an image which isoutput is displayed for previewing on the preview region 1311 a 1 of the2-sided copy function detail setting screen 1311 a as shown in FIG. 26.

Next, when setting is made so as to aggregate pages for copying, the2-sided copy function detail setting screen 1311 a is cleared from thedisplay panel 132 to select a special function key 1315 on a screen inthe copy mode by a touch operation as shown in FIG. 27, and a functionsetting screen 1316 is displayed on the screen in the copy mode as shownin FIG. 28. The function setting screen 1316 includes selection itemsassociated with other functions including “page aggregation”.

When “page aggregation” is selected by a touch operation on the functionsetting screen 1316, the page aggregation function detail setting screen1311 b is displayed in front of the function selection region 2000 andthe preview region 3000 as shown in FIG. 29.

When “two pages” is selected on the page aggregation function detailsetting screen 1311 b, a plurality of patterns of page layoutscorresponding to the two pages (2 in 1) are displayed on the previewregion 1311 b 1 of the page aggregation function detail setting screen1311 b as shown in FIG. 30.

A specific pattern is then selected from the plurality of page layoutsand the color start key 5108 is operated by touch so that color copy isexecuted.

In this way, copying in the copy mode is set and executed.

As described above, in the example 2, the number of operations by a userfrom start of setting to outputting is six touch operations as shown inFIGS. 19 to 23. Whereas in the comparative example, the number ofoperations by a user from start of setting to outputting is eight touchoperations as shown in FIGS. 24 to 30. Thus, according to the example 2,it is possible to make setting of image outputting efficiently by asimpler operation than ever before.

With the configuration described above, according to the presentembodiment, in the image forming apparatus 100 provided with theoperation unit 120 having a function of setting an image outputcondition of an image output based on input image data, as theconfiguration of the operation unit side control portion 131 forcontrolling processing and operations of the operation unit 120, thefirst function selecting portion 1311 (the 2-sided copy function detailsetting screen 1311 a and the page aggregation function detail settingscreen 1311 b) and the second function selecting portion 1312 (the firstrelated function selection screen 1312 a 1 and the second relatedfunction selection screen 1312 a 2) are provided, and the first functionselecting portion 1311 and the second function selecting portion 1312are displayed at the same time on the touch panel display 130, so thatfunctions selectable by the first function selecting portion 1311 andfunctions selectable by the second function selecting portion 1312 areselectable at the same time, and thereby, the presence of versatileconvenient functions (recommended functions) provided in the apparatusis able to be confirmed and a function desired by a user is easilyselectable from among these functions, thus making it possible to makesetting of image outputting efficiently with a simpler operation thanever before. This makes it possible to realize the image formingapparatus capable of reducing erroneous copy due to an erroneousoperation and trying to improve operability.

That is, in the present embodiment, the second function selectingportion 1312 is displayed corresponding to the first function selectingportion 1311, and the first related function selection screen 1312 a 1related to the 2-sided copy function detail setting screen 1311 a isdisplayed when the 2-sided copy function detail setting screen 1311 a isdisplayed corresponding to the function of the first function selectingportion 1311, further, the second related function selection screen 1312a 2 related to the page aggregation function detail setting screen 1311b is displayed when the page aggregation function detail setting screen1311 b is displayed corresponding to the function of the 2-sided copyfunction detail setting screen 1311 a, so that detail setting of theselected function is able to be confirmed and selected easily as well asfunctions related to the selected function are able to be confirmed andselected easily. This makes it possible to reduce switching of theoperation screen, thus making it possible to select and set functionsefficiently with an erroneous operation reduced.

Note that, in the above embodiments and examples, description has beengiven for an example in which the operation unit 120 according to thepresent invention is applied to the image forming apparatus 100 as shownin FIG. 1, but not limited to an image forming apparatus or a copierwith a configuration as described above as far as it is an image formingapparatus provided with the operation unit (image display operationdevice) provided with the function selection screen (function selectingportion) associated with a plurality of functions so as to be executableand having a function of setting an image output condition of an outputimage, and is able to be developed to other image forming apparatusesand the like.

As has been described, the present invention is not limited to the aboveembodiments and examples, and various modifications can be made withinthe range specified in the scope of claims. It is obvious that variouschanges and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art withinthe scope of claims, that is, any embodiment obtained by combination oftechnical parts modified as appropriate without departing from the scopeof the present invention should be included in the technical range ofthe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image display operation device, comprising: afirst function selecting portion as a function selecting portion; and asecond function selecting portion as the function selecting portion,wherein selectable functions are displayed in the first functionselecting portion, and functions related to the functions displayed inthe first function selecting portion are displayed in the secondfunction selecting portion.
 2. The image display operation deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the functions related to the functionsdisplayed in the first function selecting portion are displayed in thesecond function selecting portion in according to a selection of any oneof the functions in the first function selecting portion.
 3. The imagedisplay operation device according to claim 2, wherein the functionsrelated to the functions displayed in the first function selectingportion contain at least one function among: a function assumed to befrequently used; a function which is convenient when used jointly; arecommended function; a function having a strong mechanical relation toeach other; a new function; and a function which is capable of beingturned on/off with a touch operation.
 4. The image display operationdevice according to claim 1, wherein, when any one of the functionsdisplayed in the first function selecting portion is selected, a screenfor performing a detail setting associated with the selected function isdisplayed.
 5. The image display operation device according to claim 1,wherein, when any one of the functions displayed in the second functionselecting portion is selected, a screen for performing a detail settingassociated with the selected function is displayed.
 6. The image displayoperation device according to claim 1, wherein the image displayoperation device is capable of displaying a preview image reflecting afinishing state of an image, and the preview image reflects a settingassociated with functions selected in the first function selectingportion and the second function selecting portion.
 7. The image displayoperation device according to claim 1, wherein at least one instructionkey for executing a process to an image is displayed in a close vicinityof the second function selecting portion.
 8. An image forming apparatuscomprising the image display operation device according to claim
 1. 9. Adisplaying method in an image display operation device, the imagedisplay operation device comprising: a first function selecting portionas a function selecting portion; and a second function selecting portionas the function selecting portion, the displaying method comprising thesteps of: displaying selectable functions in the first functionselecting portion, and displaying functions related to the functionsdisplayed in the first function selecting portion, in the secondfunction selecting portion.